Pin gauge



Sept. 30, E M. DYER PIN GAUGE Filed July 12, 1957 INVENTUR' EDWIN M- DYER BY 9 5 A TTORNEYS Pak! FIGZ.

FIG.1.

United states Patent o 2,853,787 PIN GAUGE Edwin M. Dyer, Greenville, Ky. `Application July 12, 1957, Serial No. 671,551

7 Claims. (Cl. 33-174) This application relates to well drilling equipment and more particularly to pin-construction, gauge for said pin construction, and the method of gauging such pin.

An object of this invention is to provide a pin forming part of a box and p in joint, particularly for use in cable tools used in drilling wells, such as oil wells, and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pin which may be gauged to determined whether it has undergone distortion of such order that failure of the pin is imminent.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pin, the likelihood of failure of which is predictable, where.- by pin failureand resultant loss of portions of the drilling stringin the Well hole may be avoided.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide a gauge of simple, durable construction for use in gauging pins of the foregoing character to determine if same have been elongated, bent, twisted, .for otherwise distorted excessively.

which may be used to gauge pins of the foregoing character in order that defective pins which are likely to fail in use,may be'rejected prior to `insertion in a stringV of tools. v

A further object of this invention'is to provide a gauge which is durable and will withstand use at the drill site to gauge pins of drill string elements prior to their connection in a drill string.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of testing pins to determine their suitability for use.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will in part be obvious, and in part be apparent to those-having ordinary skill in the art to which'this invention pertains. f

Like reference characters indicate like parts in the along the line'8-8 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in side elevationof an unsatisfactory pin in co-operative relation to a fragmentary portion of a gauge corresponding generally vto the view Fig. 8. t

A string of cable tools such as may be used in the drilling of wells such as oil wells, or the like, is illus- A further object of this invention is to provide a gauge following description and accompanying drawing, in n which: l

Fig. 1 is a view in-side elevation of a string oftools embodying thepresent invention, portions of some of the elements thereof being broken away to avoid excessive size of the particular view. f

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of element being broken away to reduce the sizeof the view vthe endllportions of 'i an element of ay drill string the central portion of thel but without effecting the portions of the structure relevant l to the instant disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the end portion of a drill string element showing a pin embodying the present Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a portion of thehub portion of the gauge illustrated in Fig. 4.A l

Fig. 6 is a plan view in side 'elevation-of -one of-the L.-shaped arms forming part ofthe gauge and adapted trated in Fig. 1. The several elements comprising the string'of toolsl may'be varied from time to time, but one such assembly of elements used when drilling a well comprises those illustrated in Fig. 1.l To the lower end of a cable or rope 20 isk secured a rope socket or swivel 21 which in turn suspends a unit known as jars 22 to the lower end of which is coupled a drill stem 23, the lower end of which is coupled a drill bit 24. It may be noted that thedrill stem 23 is primarily a long, heavy steel bar and the center portion of the stem has been broken away in preparing the illustration thereof in Fig. 1. It is customary to form the end portions of the several elements which may be incorporated in a drill string such as ythe one illustrated in Fig. l, according to standard dimensions in order that the several elements may be assembled in any desired sequence and combination. Each element of the drill string has a box end and pin end. In Fig. 2, vare shown the end portions of a drill string element, the center portions of which have been broken away, and as oriented in Fig. 2, the box end portion 26vis shown as the lower end portion and the pin end portion 27 is shown as the upper .end portion.

Asshown in Fig. 2, a frustoconic recess 28 extends axially upward into box end portion 26 and is surrounded by a at, annular, radial surface. As shown most clearly in Fig.` 2, threads 30 are provided in the Wall of the frustoand its minor base being the end face 33 which is the i free end face of pin 32. The outer frustoconic face of pin 32 is'threaded and the threads 34 thereon are adapted lto mate with the threads 30 in the frustoconic wall 'of box recess 28. It is customary to provide on each of the drill string units or elements, a portion having parallel faces,.the portion usually being of square, cross-section to provide surfaces adapted to co-operate with wrenches -used in drawing the threaded joints into tight co-operation. In Fig. 2 the faces adapted for engagement by a wrench yare indicated by the reference character 35, and are often referred to in popular parlance as squares Thel proper tightening of box pin joints and the method of properly tightening-them form part of the skills possessed by one or more of every drilling crew. lf the joint is tightened too tightly, the pin 32 may be elongated and thereby weakened; and if insuiciently tightened, the joint may open while the string is in use in the well hole being drilled. If a joint opens, or if a pin fails, while the drill string is inthe hole, the portion of the drill string below the point of failure, is lost and its recovery is an expensive, time-consuming operation which must be completed before it is possible to continue drilling thevwell deeper. vvBox and pin joints would b e found in the drill string illustrated in Fig. 1 at the locations in.-

Patented Sept. 30, 1958 diea'ted .by reference. character 36, the lead line of which indicates. the -plane ..of.. .abutment between.- cofoperating angular shoulder faces 29 and31.

The drill string must be pulled from thehole from timettolime and .disassembled .'--incidentltoreplacement .Y of drill bits 24 as they become dulled, or .for-sthe .add-Lf tiononremovalof ...otherdools --vhich maysben used from time to time. l that. the pins..32 tend. .to stretch or.. elongate: and .become otherwise distorted, i. e.',. tend .tobend and/or. tend.;to.

twist or.` wring-.oif adjacent theplaneaof the annular surface-31,L As.. shown.,in.Fig.t.l,. the frustoconic recess .28

Over an extended periodofguse .itisusu'alf in .the-.lboxportionpof :thetdrill string .element-thas a...

depth greater than the length of the pin 32 ,which is.L

adaptedito. .be threadedly.. receivedltherein... Thispgreater depthv permits: appropriate tightening When. .the .pin..32. is. distorted, `it isf. weakened and must be ..returned.:to the ,.shop.. wherela portionis cut. offgof theend .ofthepin and. the .element-is machined to the standard-.pin..form..and dimension before. it is returned to a..drill.site for. further use.;

portionpf .adrill string element is not negligible, but it is much less. than the costof recovering .lost portions of..

a drill string .from a hole.. In-order todetectfdefective pins,...I provide on the drill stem elements va pin;,of,the

kind shown'inuthe. drawings,.particularly in Figs. 3 fand.. 4, the vgeneral,.dimensionsof which may. be,.those ..of..a standard pin.in.order.,that.it may be used in conjunction...A Thepin 32. shown in Fig`..,3 jhas .an -axial recess...37. extending, zinto.. its radial. end.face34..f.f. The .wallofthe recesst37--adjacent radial,

with zstandard box .end portions..

..20 The. detection of defective pins.is'qnite .dimculta The cost ofremachining the pin.

end .face.34.tapers.frustoconically,. and the taper may be... in conformity-,with fthetaper of a lathe center used when n the..pin portion-.is machined. Asis=shown more clearly in Fig. 4, 4;the. ,wall ofthe lower .portion .of Vrecess37, that., is, .the .portionspaced fromradial end face `34 maybe p. cylindrical inform and threaded. Radially oriented.,

V-grooves 40.` andi 41 areprovidedin lradial end, face 34.

V-grcioyeltbzas shown, may benarrower. than .V-grOOve. 41 and `they .are aligned. along a commonfdiameter, A- pairpfoppositely positioned longitudinal grooves extend radially; intopin 32:from adjacent annular shoulder 4face 31 to a point.,intermedia tethe plane of face 31 andrradialy j rower than V-groove 41.4

bottom .46 of groove 43.VV The j. side .walls of .groove43 are also in spaced parallel relationship to each other and. j

.55 wall/s: corresponding to end wall 47 of groove .42 r`areJ`Vh preferably coplanar with annular shoulder face 31,Lor.

the. previously mentioned center line plane. The end as nearly so as possible.

A gaugeA means which Amay be .used .to.check Ythe .60 of thedrilll string element of. which lit isla ,.part, in ,a drillstring at. the .drill siteA may .be vconstructed inthe. following manner. Ahub memberSwhich maygbeof right cylindrical form,.as shown, isprovidedfhaving an.

degree of distortion ofla v.pinrl32` prior tothe assembly,

axial bore `51,v .extending therethrough, .the .bore..51" is frustoconic adjacentone of itsl endsand tapers from lits., one end to a right cylindrical portion adjacent its-other: encl,,the frustoconic portion of the bore .51 being..

bounded by afrustoconic wall -52 and theriglitucylindri-ll.

cal portion thereof I .being bounded by Aa cylindricalfwall 53m A pair of diametrally opposed slots 54,. 55 arep1l'0 videdV in hubA Strand extend radially inwardly from thee periphery thereof and terminate in spaced relation togbore.

51.-A As shown in Fig. 5, slot 54; is narroWer-than.5slot. 55 and. spacing of the lateral, wall faces of the slotswhichf extend parallel to an axial plane of hub 50, for example,

spacing .ofs wall faces. 56.and 57. bounding slot-55, is pref- .l

erably held to close tolerance for the reasons which follow.

In Fig. 6 is shown aplan view of an L or arm member 5S which has two flat, parallel, L-shaped faces 59. The thickness of the L-shaped member 58, that is, the spacing of the faces 59 thereof, isgof-such magnitude ,that the shorter arm portion of member` Simay be pressed into slot 55, wherein it is firmly engaged and anchored between the faces j.Stf-.Iandu57 bounding .that lpslot. The relationship of the'arrn of the L-shaped member 58 to the hub 50-is.shown. most clear-ly yin- Fig. 4f The shorter arm portion of elementASS, asshoxwn clearly in Figs. 6 and 4, has a knife edge 60 which extends from the longer arm portion of that Velement to the free end of the shorter arm portion thereof. The knife edge 60 is the line of intersection of the plane bevel faces 61, 62. As shown in-Figs..4 and 7,fthe lfaces.61 and 62 do.notextend @into `theslotI 55,-: and th-us project lfroml the lradial face of hub 50.= AlsecondLL-shaped member 64/is similar.-to-L-shap.ed. member .58; and differs therefrom. only in `thicknesspthatis,.thespacingof the L-shaped faces 65,.. 66 .isznot equal-to-the..spacing..of the vLshaped-faces 59 of member 58. The L-shaped member 64 is placed in aco-operation with- Hhub. 50, t. namely, .y with. a portion thereof in slot.\54.in a -manner similarv to the manner in which: Lfshapedtmembei-NSS is. secured `to .the .hubs

As shown in Fig, 4, the long arm portions of .thememhemp-58; 64.\.extend. in spacci/.parallel relation to the.

axisfof-;hub.=50,:iwhiles..the..shorterarm portions having.

knifeitedges .60,';;67.'fextend. in paralleli relationship andi radially of hub 50.1.. Thumb tscrew .68 has ahead. 69,.'a

frustoconic:.bodyportion.70-:tapering from head.69 to a cylindricalportion '71 upont which external threadsx72. are kprovided. The .screw .68.4 -is shaped and dimensioned *f to extend through-bore.Slt-.withzitsfrustoconic body seetion 70 in mating relation with the frustoconic wall por.

tion-52; of `.the.bore ,51' and.. vvits .cylindrical portion E71 extendingathrough:..the.;,cylindricalportion .of bore 451.@

into.. v.threaded Aengagement .with yipin. 32, .the threads; 72

thereofrbeing. in' engagement withpthe threads 39 inthe 2.

cylindrical portion 38 of the axial recess in pin 32. The..-

thumb.iiscr.ew,.68, :may .be- .rotated .to .draw.hub 50. axially.

toward radial zend face .34, .lof .pint 32; The Aprojecting. f

grooves 41 and 40. The under side-.731'of thumb. screw head,A 62. beinga radial face and ,engaging theradialface4 alignment withf.t11. a -..ente..rflines.y .of the long. .arms .of .the

L-shaped portions extending` in parallel relation tohaf diametralgaxyial; plane .of pin-,32 inwhich the lapices of the V-grooves 40 and 41 also lie. L-shaped members'SS and 64 thus extend into and longitudinally lofvgrooves` ..42 ,and ,43,the free end faces -77,- 78 of those arms being positioned in close spaced parallell relation to annular shoulden face 31,.,when ,screw 684 ..is, turned,v down tightly.i to j clamp the gauge l in gauging relationto the pin. 32

tion of L`shaped` member 64 is designated by.. the referf ence .character 75. As shown, the ,portion I75 ,extends intoi ,slot 42 with., its face 65; in. yclos,eu..spaced .parallel -relav The long arms pfthe tionship to sidewall or face 44 of groove 42 and its vface'.

66 .jiniclose.,spaced.,parallelIrelationship to groove side; walljor'faceA .76., Thespacing .between 4vlfaces65 Vamd64 andbetweenfaces 66 and 76 fmay. .be-ofany order desired.V

However, I. have found that y.spaqirin` mayebe. Convenientlyr 0f theordertot 0.02.05i11ch.; Theend face .77 is in des@ spaced parallel relationship to annulanshoulder fag;e31l,,v as 4iszend :faceJSf-.omthesother armeof long leaof the.;

L-shaped member 5'8. The faces 77 and 78 are coplanar, perpendicular to and parallel to the knife edges 60 and 67. It may benoted that the edge faces 79 and 80 of the respective long arm portions of members 64 and 58 are spaced from the bottom face of the grooves, as is shown in Fig. 4. Thus, when the gauge is mounted in the fashion described in co-operative relation with a pin 32, the long gauge arms being in spaced parallel relation to the several faces, namely, the side walls of the respective grooves and the annular radial shoulder face 31, the pin may be tested for distortion by passing a simple feeler gauge, such as is widely used, for example, in gauging the gap between the electrodes of a spark'plug for an internal combustion engine, between the close spaced faces. Bending of the pin may be indicated by the existence of a non-parallel relationship between faces 65, 44, or 66, 76, orthe corresponding faces of the other arm of the gauge, or by the spacing between face 78 and 31 being unequal to the space between faces 77 and 31. Since the gauge is initially applied to the pin before it is placed in use, namely, when the element of which it is a part, is received from the factory or machine shop, the spacing dimensions referred to in the foregoing description may be noted at that time for future reference in determining variations in any of those dimensions. Thus, the spacing of faces 78 and 77 from face 31 is known at the outset, elongation or stretching of the pin will be indicated by an increase in the spacing between faces 78, 77, and 31. The other change of the pin which is a prelude to its failure is a twisting thereof and the twisting normally is' found to occur in the portion of the pin adjacent face 31. Assuming that Fig. 8 is an illustration of a pin which has not been distorted, we may view Fig. 9 as the same pin as subsequently distorted, particularly it may be noted that the spacing between faces 77 and 31 is greater in Fig. 9 than in Fig. 8. This may indicate bending along the axis of the pin. It may indicate stretching of the pin. Further, it may be noted that the walls 44 and 76 are not parallel to the faces 65 and 66 of the gauge portion 75. In this case it may be noted that the face 66 is in substantial contact with face 76 at the points indicated by the reference characters 82 and 83, while face 65 is nearly in contact with face 44 at point 84. Thus, if the tester sought to slide a twentythousandths inch feeler gauge blade between these faces, that feeler gauge blade would bind between the faces 65 and 44 as it approached the vicinity of point 84 and would be loose in the vicinity of the point indicated by the lead line from the reference character 44 in Fig. 9. Of course, if the pin 32 had been twisted more than is shown in Fig. 9, it might be impossible to insert the gauge member 75. I prefer to select a slot or groove width differing sufficiently from the thickness of gauge member 7S, namely, the distance between faces 65 and 66 thereof, so as to allow insertion of the gauge portions 75 into the respective slots so long as excessive twisting of the pin has not occurred. It may be noted further that I prefer that the thickness of the gauge portions 75 which extend into the slots 42 and 43 are adapted to be inserted in slots which are Wider by an equal amount. That is to say, that the long arm of L-shaped member 64 may have a thickness X; while the sum of the widths of the spaces between that member and the opposed side wall faces of the respective groove 42 are equal to a distance Y, the groove having a width (X -l-Y); while the other blade, namely, the long arm portion of L-shaped member 58 has a thickness Z; and the slot 43 has a width of (Y-l-Z).

Having thus described the disclosed embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, that various modifications and changes may be made in the illustrative embodiment, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

Therefore, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A gauge for a threaded pin which comprises a base member, means for releasably attaching said base member to a free end of the pin, said base member having a slot having a portion adjacent the end of the pin, an angle-shaped feeler member having one arm receivable in the slot with one edge of said arm in engagement with the free end of the pin and with faces of said arm in clo'sely engaging relation with walls of the slot and a second'arm extending longitudinally of the pin, and means on the second arm for registering with the pin to indicate elongation of the pin.

2. A gauge for a threaded pin having a longitudinal slot in a side face thereof which comprises a base member, means for releasably attaching said base member to a free end of the pin, said base member having a slot having a portion adjacent the end of the pin, an angleshaped feeler member having one arm receivable in the slot of the base member with one edge of said arm in engagement with the free end of the pin and with `faces of said arm in closely engaging relation with walls of the slot of the base member and a second arm extending longitudinally of the pin and along the slot in the pin, and means on the second arm for registering with the pin to indicate elongation of the pin, the thickness of the second arm being slightly less than the width of the slot -in the side face of the pin, whereby the spacing between faces of the second arm and walls of the slot in the pin indicates deformation of the pin.

3. A gauge for a threaded pin having an axial bore which comprises a base member, means for releasably attaching said base member to a free end of the pin at the axial bore, said base member having a radially extending slot having a portion adjacent the end of the pin, an angle-shaped feeler member having one arm receivable in the slot with one edge of said arm in engagement with the free end of the pin and with faces of said arm in closely engaging relation with walls of the slot and a second arm extending longitudinally of the pin, and means on the second arm for registering with the pin to indicate elongation of the pin.

4. In combination, a connector pin having a threaded body, a longitudinal slot in the threaded side of the pin, a gauge base having a slot therein, means for attaching the gauge base to the outer end of the pin with the slot of the gauge base adjacent the outer face and aligned with the slot in the pin, and an angle-shaped .feeler member having an upper arm receivable in the slot 5. In combination, a connector pin having a threaded body and an inner shoulder at one end of the body substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body and extending outwardly therefrom, the body terminating in an outer face substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body, there being a longitudinal slot in the threaded side of the body, a gauge base having a slot therein, means for releasably attaching the gauge base to the outer face of the body with the slot of the gauge base adjacent the outer face and aligned with the slot in the body, and an angle-shaped feeler member having an upper arm receivable in the slot of the gauge base with faces of said upper arm in closely engaging relation with walls of the slot of the gauge Vbase and one edge of the upper arm engaging the outer face of the body and a lower arm extending along the slot in the body, the thickness of the lower arm being slightly less than the width of the body slot, whereby distortion of the pin at the body slot can be determined by the spacing of the lower arm from the sides of the body slot, the lower 6. Incombinatiom aconnector pinhavingrrfapfrusto-v conic, threaded -body and aninnervshoulder substantially perpendicular tothe axisof Vthe bodyy and extending fout-i wardly therefrom, the body terminating in an-,outer face.

substantially perpendiculanto the axis of the body,.there being a longitudinal slotvin thevthreadedsideeof the pin,

the inner `wallof the slotbeingssubstantiallyparallel to, the axis of the tbody, the slot terminating ,adjacent theA inner shoulder, a gauge base having a slot therein, ymeans forvattaching the gauge base, to the outer end. of'lthe pinfwith the slot of the, gauge baseadjacent the. outer face and aligned with the slot in the pinrand an angleshaped feeler membeighaving en ,upper arm y, receivable in the slot of the gauge ,basefwith faces ,of-,saidiupper end of the lower arm terminatinggadjacent the,shguller,5 whereby elongation of thel bodyv can be.,detected 7. In combination, aiconnector `pinhaving lat..frkusto` Y.

conic, threaded body and an inner lshoulder .substantially Si perpendicularto the l,axis offgthe body and, extending outwardly jtherefrom;` the body J,terminating in v an outer face'l l, substantially:perpendiculargto the axis of thebody,l there-V being a threaded axialboreanda ,pair of radial groovesVV in the `outer face, there Ibeing .longitudinal slots .in;,the threaded sides of rthenpininv registry .withthel grooves,

the inner walls of-,the slots, beingsubstantiaHy,parallel,,

to the axis ,ofy the.V body, the slots terminating adjacent, the-inner shoulder, a vgauge basehaving .a pairof ra-, dially extending 'slots,-. screw :means for, attachingithe gauge base to the outer endV of thepin in theaXiaLbore, with the radial slots of.'thegaugetbasealignedwith the grooves` and slotsvv in Vthe pin,V and a pair-0L angle-t shaped feeler members, each of the feeler membershavfr "ing an upperarm -receivable in one of thewslotsiof the`` gauge base, with facesof the upper,arm is gcloselyfen;A gaging relation with .walls of, one `of, the. slots of .the gauge base and one edge of the upperarmrbeingfre-l ceived in ,one of the radiall grooves,wand aloweiarni; extending into one voffthe 4 slots of the,;body thewidth; of each lower arm ,being slightlyless.thanthewidthof the body slot in which it is, received, wherebyYdistort-ion, of the ,pin at -the slot can be v`determined ,hy thefspacing of each lower arm from the sides ofthe slotin which it is, received, the. lowerfends of., thelower. arms terminating ,i adjacent the shoulder, whereby elongationbf, the body,v can bedetected.l t

Nov i references cited.

wir.; i. fl 

